Rail fastening system constructed to allow pre-assembly of a rail clip and shoulder

ABSTRACT

A rail fastening system including a cast shoulder and an elastic rail spring clip for applying a holding force to an insulator and a rail. The spring clip includes a pair of compressible arms for exerting a rail hold down force and a substantially horizontal base portion for application to the cast shoulder. The cast shoulder includes an anchoring portion, a receiving portion including converging opposing sides angled to define a throat having a width less than a decompressed width of the spring clip arms, and notches on the sides adjacent to the throat. In practice, the spring clip is applied to the cast shoulder such that two spring clip arms contact and move along the converging sides causing the spring clip arms to be compressed by the sides. When the arms move beyond the throat, the arms spring outwardly into the notch. The notch provides a catch that prevents any backward migration such that the elastic rail spring clip and the cast shoulder cam be pre-assembled at a remote location, requiring less labor at the rail installation site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] In general, this invention relates to a rail fasting system, andin particular, to a method and device for securing a rail to a concreterail tie.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventional fastening systems for concrete rail ties generallyhave a cast shoulder, an elastic rail spring clip, and a rail insulator.In this conventional system, the tie is formed with a portion of thecast shoulder imbedded into the tie. To secure the rail to the tie, theelastic rail spring clip is applied to the cast shoulder such thatspring arms of the elastic spring clip press the insulator downwardlyagainst a top portion of the rail flange to exert a rail hold downforce. At the same time, the body or base of the elastic rail springclip is secured to the cast shoulder to prevent movement of the railflange.

[0005] This conventional system requires the loose components such asthe insulator and the elastic rail spring clip to be wholly installed atthe construction site. This process requires a large labor force andconsiderable time to place the components into a working position.Accordingly, the handling and application or thee loose rail fasteningcomponents typically comprises a significant part of the overall cost ofthe installation of concrete railroad ties and rails. Moreover, theloose parts can be easily lost, misplaced or stolen.

[0006] In addition to the labor cost of installation, the rail fasteningassembly may need to be removed after the rail has been installed toallow the rail to be serviced. Currently, the conventional methodrequires the elastic rail spring clip element to be “sprayed” completelyout of the cast shoulder to release the other components. Afterservicing the rail, additional effort must be invested to reset andsecure the spring clip, similar to the effort required to mount thespring clip originally.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a rail fastening system whichfacilitates the installation of the rail fastening components, reducesthe cost of installing rails on concrete ties and facilitates andreduces the cost of post-installation rail servicing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention satisfies the above-described need byproviding a method and device for coupling a rail to a railroad tieincluding a cast shoulder and an elastic spring clip which can bepre-assembled together to reduce the work required at the track site andminimize loss of parts.

[0009] Generally described, the present invention provides a fasteningsystem for mounting a rail to a rail tie which includes a spring cliphaving a pair of arms that can be deflected toward one another from anormal non-deflected position wherein the arms define a normal width ofthe spring clip. The fastening system also includes a shoulder having ananchoring portion adapted to be anchored to the rail, a receivingportion for receiving the spring clip, and a notch. The receivingportion includes a pair of opposing sides angled to converge as theyextend toward the rail and providing a throat location at which thedistance between the opposing sides is less than the normal width of thespring clip. The notches provide a width greater than the distancebetween the opposing sides at the throat location to thereby provide acatch structure which prevents movement of the spring clip out of thereceiving portion in a direction away from the rail.

[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, the inventionprovides a method for pre-assembling an elastic rail spring clip to ashoulder. The elastic spring clip includes a substantially horizontalbase as well as the two spring arms. The method involves application ofthe elastic rail spring clip to the receiving portion of the shoulderand movement of the clip into the receiving portion until the springclip arms reach and pass the throat. The elastic rail spring clip armscompress as they move along the converging sides toward the throat, andthe arms thereafter spring outwardly and are caught in the notches.

[0011] By providing the converging sides and the notches adjacent to thethroat location of the sides, the present invention allows the springclip and cast shoulder to be pre-assembled prior to the on-site finalinstallation of the rail to the rail tie, thereby reducing the amount offield labor required to install the rail tie Additionally, the notchprevents a complete decoupling of the spring clip from the cast shoulderthereby reducing the labor required to remove and reattach the springclip once the rail is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012] The present invention is described in detail below with referenceto the attached figures, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a rail fastening system constructedto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the interconnectionof an elastic rail spring clip, an insulator and a cast shoulder of thepresent invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is top plan view of the interconnection between the elasticrail spring clip and the cast shoulder of the present inventionillustrating the clip preassembled to the cast shoulder prior to finalinstallation of the rail fastening system;

[0016]FIG. 4 is top plan view of the interconnection between the elasticrail spring clip and the cast shoulder of the present invention similarto FIG. 3 but illustrating the fully installed position of the railfastening system of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the interconnection between theelastic rail spring clip and the cast shoulder illustrating the springclip preassembled to the cast shoulder prior to final installation ofthe rail fastening system of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the interconnection between theelastic rail spring clip and the cast shoulder of the present inventionsimilar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the spring clip fully applied to thecast shoulder in the fully installed position of the rail fasteningsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a rail fastening system constructed accordingto the present invention and denoted generally by the reference numeral10. System 10 includes a cast shoulder 12, an elastic rail spring clip14, and an insulator 16. When applied to a railroad tie 18, which ispreferably made of concrete or similar material, system 10 secures arailroad rail 20 to the tie 18. Preferably, two of the rail fasteningsystems 10 are used for each tie 18 on each rail 20, with one fasteningsystem on the field side of each rail and another fastening system onthe gauge side of each rail. The ties 18 are spaced apart and extendtransversely to the rails 20 in the usual manner.

[0020] With reference to FIG. 2, the cast shoulder 12 of the presentinvention includes an anchoring portion 22 and a receiving portion 24.Anchoring portion 22 preferably includes two vertically extending legs26 having flared lower ends 28 for attachment with concrete railroad tie18. Preferably, the legs 26 are embedded in the tie 18 when the tie iscast. Receiving portion 24 includes a bottom surface 30 and two opposingsides 32. Bottom surface 30 is generally horizontal and is connectedwith the anchoring portion 14 and with the opposing sides 32.Preferably, bottom surface 30 also includes a ramped guide piece 36 forreceiving elastic rail spring clip 14.

[0021] Opposing sides 32 each include a base 38 mounted on top of thebottom surface 30 and a more narrow wall 40 extending upwardly from thebase 38. Preferably, because the width of the base 38 is greater thanthe width of the wall 40, the wall 40 extends from the outer edge of thebase 38, relative to center of the bottom surface 30, such that the topof each base 38 provides a horizontal ledge surface 41 for accepting theelastic rail spring clip 14. Projecting inwardly toward the center ofthe shoulder 12 from the top of each of the opposing sides 32 is aflange piece 34. Preferably, each flange piece 34 includes a generallyhorizontal top surface 42 and an inwardly facing surface 44. Theunderside portion of each flange 34 has an inclined portion 46 whichslopes downwardly as it extends toward the rail and connects with agenerally horizontal portion 47 which closely overlies the elastic railspring clip base when the clip is installed.

[0022] Flange piece 34 is arranged in a special configuration. On thetop portion of each flange 34, a side edge 34 a of the flange anglesinwardly toward an axis centered between the opposing sides 32. Theedges 34 a converge as they extend toward the rail 20 such that thedistance between the edges of the two flange pieces 34 decreases fromthe back of the receiving portion 24 to the front relative to thelocation of the rail 20. The convergence of the edges is such that thedistance between the two edges 34 a progressively decreases. The minimumdistance between edges 34 a is at a throat 48 which has a width lessthan the undeflected width of the arms of the clip 14.

[0023] Adjacent to the throat 48, each flange piece 34 is provided witha notch 50 which is recessed into edge 34 a. Each notch 50 is bounded bytwo substantially vertical surfaces perpendicular to one another.Preferably, the notch 50 defines a square cut-out having a first surface49, generally perpendicular to the vertical wall 32, which functions asa catch to impede the backward migration of the elastic spring clip 14once the tips of its arms have passed beyond the throat 48.Additionally, the notch 50 includes a second surface 51, generallyparallel to wall 32, which is of a sufficient length to allow the springclip arms 54 to rest within the notch 50 without substantially extendingbeyond the receiving portion 24. As would be readily understood,structures having rounded or angled edges between the surfaces of thenotch 50 are considered within the scope of the present invention, asare other configurations and arrangements of the edges 34 a.

[0024] Preferably, the bottom surface 30, opposing sides 32 and flangepieces 34 are cast as a single piece. As is understood by those skilledin the art, the implementation of the bottom surface 30, opposing sides32, and/or flange pieces 34 as separate components connected to oneanother is within the scope of the present invention.

[0025] With continued reference to FIG. 2, elastic rail spring clip 14preferably includes a substantially horizontal base piece 52, two spacedapart arms 54 extending from the base 52 and two substantiallyhorizontal tips 56 at the free ends of the arms 54. The tips are curvedback generally toward the base 52. Preferably, spring clip arms 54 arecompressible toward one another from a noncompressed or normal width toa compressed width by the application of a sufficient compression force.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the present inventionallows pre-assembly of the elastic rail spring clip 14 to the castshoulder 12 prior to the onsite implementation of the rail fasteningsystem. The elastic rail spring clip 14 is applied into the back of thereceiving portion 24 of cast shoulder 12 (the side opposite the rail 20)such that the base 52 passes between the vertical walls 40, and abovethe horizontal surfaces 41. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bottom of baseportion 52 of the elastic rail spring clip 14 contacts the top of thehorizontal surface 41 and guide piece 36 as the spring clip progressesforwardly. Additionally, base portion 52 contacts and moves alongsurface 46. Inner surface 44, base 38 and guide piece 36 serve to guideand secure the elastic spring clip 14 as it passes into the castshoulder 12.

[0027] After entering the back of the receiving portion, the elasticrail spring clip 14 continues to move into the cast shoulder 12 to apoint where the substantially vertical leading ends 54 a (see FIGS. 5and 6) of the decompressed spring clip arms 54 contact the edges 34 a,whereafter additional movement of the clip causes arms 54 to deflecttoward one another. The spring clip arms 54 are gradually compressed asthey move along the converging edges 34 a toward the throat 48. Afterthe leading ends of arms 54 pass the throat, the compressive force isremoved and the arms 54 then spring outwardly in the notches 50 againstsurfaces 51. It should be understood that alternative methods ofcompressing the spring clip arms 54 are within the scope of the presentinvention.

[0028] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, upon moving past throat 48,the spring clip arms 54 decompress, causing the arms to enter and restin notches 50. Surface 49 provides a stop that engages the arms andprevents any backward migration of the decompressed spring clip 14. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the length of the second surface 51 allows thespring clip 14 to rest decompressed without extending substantiallybeyond the forward edge of the receiving portion 24. At this time, thesystem 10 has reached the preinstallation position where the clip 14 ispartially assembled to the cast shoulder 12. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the shoulder 12 is imbedded into the concrete tie 18 and taken to theconstruction site. The cast shoulder 12 may be imbedded into theconcrete tie 18 either prior to or after being coupled with the elasticspring clip 14.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, at the construction site, railinsulator 16 is placed on the rail flange 20. Elastic spring clip 14 isthen driven onto the insulator and rail flange such that the tipportions 56 of the arms contact and exert a rail hold down, force on theinsulator 16 and rail. Additionally, as the spring clip 14 movesforward, the base portion 52 of the spring clip 14 enters the spacebeneath surface 47 and is closely received therein to assure that thearms 54 exert a strong force downwardly to secure the rail 20 in place.Thus, the only additional assembly required at the construction site isthe placement of the insulator 16 and the provision of a driving forceto the elastic rail spring clip 14 to fully assemble it.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rail fastening system 10also facilitates the disengagement of the rail hold down force from theelastic spring clip 14 without decoupling the spring clip 14 from thecast shoulder 12. To disengage the spring clip force, a backwardmigration force is applied to the spring clip 14 such that it theelastic spring, clip arms 54 at the most only minimally contact theinsulator 16 and the rail hold down force is removed. Preferably, thebackward migration force is sufficient to cause the spring clip anus 54to reside within the notches 50 such that first surfaces 49 prevent anyfurther backward migration. The second surfaces 51 allow the spring cliparms 54 to reside in the notches 50 without extending unduly beyond theedge of the bottom surface 30. To reapply the hold-down force, a drivingforce is applied to the back of the spring clip to push it forward suchthat the tips 56 of the spring clip arms 54 again contact the insulatorand secure the rail 20.

[0031] The present invention allows for the partial pre-installationcoupling of the elastic rail spring clip and the cast shoulder.Accordingly, some of the labor intensive actions can be accomplishedprior to shipping the rail fastening system and concrete ties to therail site thereby reducing the more costly labor required in the fieldto secure a rail to the tie. Further, the clips 14 are matched one toone with the shoulders 12 by being preassembled to them. Thus, clips arenot subject to being misplaced as can occur when they are shipped to thesite separately. Additionally, the present invention allows a previouslymounted rail to be serviced/replaced without requiring a completedecoupling of the rail fastening system, thereby reducing the labor andtime required to carry out such work.

[0032] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is onewell adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with the other advantages which are obvious and which areinherent to the structure.

[0033] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinationsare of utility and may be employed without reference to other featuresand subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope ofthe claims.

[0034] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the inventionwithout departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood thatall matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:
 1. A fastening system for mounting a rail to a rail tie,comprising: a spring clip having a pair of arms that can be deflectedtoward one another from a normal nondeflected position wherein the armsdefine a normal width of the spring clip; and a shoulder comprising: ananchoring portion adapted to be anchored to the rail, a receivingportion for receiving the spring clip, the receiving portion having apair of opposing sides angled to converge toward the rail and providinga throat location at which the distance between the opposing sides isless than the normal width of the spring clip so that the arms aredeflected toward one another as they move along said sides toward thethroat location, and a notch adjacent to the throat location forreceiving the arms when the arms move past the throat location, thenotches defining a width greater than the distance between the opposingsides at the throat location to thereby allow the arms to assume thenon-deflected position and thereafter prevent movement of the springclip out of the receiving portion in a direction away from the rail. 2.The rail fastening system recited in claim 1, wherein the opposing sideseach includes a wall coupled with a base such that a width of the baseis wider than a width of the wall to present a ledge surface for guidingthe spring clip into said receiving portion.
 3. The rail fasteningsystem recited in claim 2, wherein the opposing sides each includes anupper portion having a first downwardly inclined surface and a secondsubstantially horizontal surface, such that an area between said ledgeand the downwardly inclined and substantially horizontal surfaces of theupper portion present a coupling guide for the spring clip.
 4. The railfastening system recited in claim 1, wherein each notch includes atleast one surface which has a length at least substantially equal to alength of each spring clip arm.
 5. In a fastening assembly for holding arail on a rail tie, a method for preassembling an elastic rail springclip having a base portion and two arms to a shoulder having a receivingportion including a pair of converging opposing sides and a notch, theconverging sides defining a throat location having a width less than adecompressed width of the spring clip arms, the method comprising:coupling the horizontal surface of the elastic rail spring clip to thereceiving portion of the shoulder; moving the elastic rail spring clipinto the receiving portion with the arms moving along the convergingsides to compress the arms to a width less than said decompressed width;and continuing to move the compressed elastic rail spring clip into thereceiving portion until the arms pass said throat and align with thenotches, whereupon the arms decompress and spring into the notches tothereafter hold the spring clip to the shoulder in a partially assembledcondition.
 6. The method as recited in claim 5, including the step ofmoving the base portion of the elastic spring clip in a guide areadefined between upper portions of the opposing sides and bases of theopposing sides.
 7. A fastening assembly for use to fasten a rail on arail tie, comprising: a spring clip having a pair of arms which normallyassume an undeflected position wherein the arms are spaced apart andpresent a normal width, said arms being constructed to deflect towardone another from said undeflected position and opposing such deflectionby spring action; a shoulder adapted for attachment to the tie andincluding a receiving portion for receiving said clip therein, saidreceiving portion having a pair of opposing sides oriented to convergetoward a throat as the sides extend toward the rail, said throatdefining a width between said sides less than said normal width todeflect said arms toward one another as the arms move along said sidestoward said throat; and a notch in each side adjacent said throat toallow the arms to spring outwardly into said notches when the arms passsaid throat, said notches having surfaces for catching on said arms toprevent the arms from moving away from the rail to said throat andthereby retain the clip to the shoulder in a partially assembledcondition.